Archive for September 2011

As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter that dreaded time of the year gets closer; cold and flu season. Most people can expect to catch at least one cold during this time of year, especially if they are around crowds of people. College students are at a higher risk to get sick as a result of the amount of people in one place during the course of the day.

There are a number of ways to prevent becoming sick. One simple solution is to get a yearly flu vaccination. This is the best way to prevent getting the flu. Contrary to popular belief, the flu vaccine does not cause someone to get sick. The flu vaccine contains the deactivated virus that allows the white blood cells to develop antibodies for the virus. During the cold and flu season hand sanitizer becomes a great tool. Using hand sanitizer after touching high traffic areas such as door handles, keyboards, desks, etc. will greatly reduce the chance of the virus getting into the body.

Keeping a regular sleep schedule goes a long way in preventing sickness. Seven hours of sleep a night keeps the body healthy. Sleeping helps boost the immune system by controlling the release of cortisol. Cortisol suppresses the immune system by muting white blood cells. Another great tip is to keep a balanced diet. Eating plenty of foods high in vitamin D and zinc will boost the immune system. Finally, make sure to exercise at least a few times a week. Exercising increases white blood cells which help fight the virus.

The key to staying healthy is keeping the immune system working. It is too late when classmates start hacking and coughing in the halls. It is best to start now before everybody starts getting sick.

Money can be the bane of any college student’s existence. It doesn’t help that most student are out on their own for the first time. They must manage to live on what little money they already have. IUSB students may not have the same ratio of job holding students to full-time students as a bigger university, but money issues affect everybody the same way.

There are many ways to save money while in school. The most important thing to remember is to not rack up more debt than what is already owed for school. Credit cards always seem like a good idea at the time; but they tend to leave the card holder swimming in debt for sometime afterwords. Credit card companies love to give their cards to students fresh out of their parent’s house. Credit cards should be used sparingly. Students should always keep a budget of their expenses. It helps to know how much money they are able to spend each month. It keeps them from overspending and resorting to borrowing money. It also helps to keep track of where money is being spent.

Saving money is vital to staying afloat in college. There are many discounts to be had around the South Bend area. It is as simple as asking a business if they offer one for students. It is also vital to open a savings account with a higher interest rate. The best places for higher interest rates are credit unions. The rates may not be significantly higher but in the long run, more money is earned.

Does technology in the classroom help the learning process? Mark James, a lecturer at the University of West Florida, doesn’t thing it is as effective as people think. James decided to conduct an experiment on his summer class to find out how his class would do without any technology in the classroom.

The result of this experiment was a success in his eyes. He did away with Powerpoint and videos he normally used and taught the old fashioned way. According to James, “The students seem more involved in the discussion than when I allowed them online.” He also stated that the class discussions improved and the students were more involved.

Another good example came from Barry Leed, an English professor at Central Connecticut University. Leed still advocates the use of blue books in his classroom. He uses them for in-class writing assignments. He says it helps the students craft more coherent arguments; helping them understand the material more effectively.

So does the technology help or hinder students? In the right context, technology can further a students understanding. When teachers start relying on technology without augmenting their lecture to accommodate said technology; it doesn’t help the students understand the material any better. A Powerpoint presentation will never be as effective as a class discussion in determining the students’ understanding. A student learns more effectively when they are actively engaged in the material. Technology can be a great addition to the classroom. But only if done in a way the keeps the student engaged and focused on the material.

What do you think? For more information on this subject, check this out

There are many subjects that can be approached in regards to students in college. A big issue regarding college students is their interest in technology. The explosion of smart phones and tablets allow a student the power of a laptop without the weight. the use of these devices can greatly enhance the learning experience. it also has the chance of hindering learning by distracting the student during lectures. it is a trade-off that can potentially change the way learning is done in the classroom. A more local, IUSB example of a technology post is a review of the new mobile site for IU. They have made the most accessed parts of the website more accessible to users on their smart phones. It allows for students to quickly check for information from their classes while on the go without having to access a computer.

Textbooks can be the bane of any college students existence. With soaring prices at the bookstore, students are always looking for ways to save on their textbooks. The web is full of used textbook websites that sell books for cheaper prices. Some of these websites can potentially save a student hundreds of dollars per semester. Another helpful topic for students is the popularity of renting textbooks for the semester. There are many upsides to renting a textbook, especially for textbooks that will never be used again after that semester. The downsides are that the student doesn’t own it, which means if it gets destroyed or damaged; the student is liable for the book.